FILM/TV
In 2002, this woman became the first African-American to win the Best Actress Oscar.
Halle Berry
This feminist writer is best known for writing The Color Purple which won a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1983.
Alice Walker
One of the most famous artists of all-time, this independent woman began her career as the lead singer of Destiny's Child and launched a successful solo career.
Beyonce Knowles
On December 1, 1955, this civil rights activist was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger, sparking the Montgomery bus boycott.
Rosa Parks
In the 1960s, she was known as the fastest woman in the world in the 1960s and became the first American woman to win three gold medals in a single Olympic Game.
Wilma Rudloph
This actress is known for her portrayal of strong women such as Tina Turner, Voletta Wallace, Rosa Parks, Betty Shabazz, and most recently as Ramonda, Queen Mother of Wakanda.
Angela Bassett
This African-American playwright is best known for her stage play A Raisin in the Sun.
Lorraine Hansberry
The highest-selling girl group in history, this trio is known for hit singles such as "Creep," "Waterfalls," "No Scrubs," and "Unpretty."
TLC
In the 1972 United States presidential election, she became the first African-American candidate for a major party's nomination for President of the United States.
Shirley Chisholm
At age 23, this tennis player is a four-time Grand Slam singles champion and is the reigning champion at the US Open and the Australian Open.
Naomi Osaka
This Australian actress is best known for portraying Harley Quinn in the films Suicide Squad and Birds of Prey.
Margot Robbie
Naoko Takeuchi is a Japanese manga artist whose most famous work involves a schoolgirl who fights save Earth from the forces of evil.
Sailor Moon
In 2019, this rapper became the first woman to win the Grammy Award for Best Rap Album for her debut album Invasion of Privacy.
Cardi B
She was an American political activist and former member of the Black Panther Party; but is best remembered as the mother of legendary rapper and actor Tupac Shakur.
Afeni Shakur
With a combined total of 30 Olympic and World Championship medals, this young lady is the most decorated American gymnast. At the 2016 Summer Olympics, she won individual gold medals in all-around, vault, and floor; bronze in the balance beam.
Simone Biles
This actress/producer has achieved wider recognition as the co-creator, co-writer, and star of the HBO television series Insecure.
Issa Rae
This British author is best known for writing the Harry Potter fantasy series, which has won multiple awards and sold more than 500 million copies.
J.K. Rowling
This beautiful singer was known as the "Princess of R&B" thanks to songs such as "Try Again," "Rock the Boat," and "Are U That Somebody." Sadly, she died in a plane crash at the age of 22.
She was an American educator, civil rights advocate, and the widow of Malcolm X.
Betty Shabazz
After becoming the first American woman to earn an Olympic medal in judo by winning bronze at the 2008 Summer Olympics, she found success as a mixed martial artist.
Ronda Rousey
This actress and singer became the first African-American woman to win an Oscar for her performance as Mammy in the 1939 film Gone with the Wind.
Hattie McDaniel
This American novelist is best known for her vampire romance series Twilight, which has sold over 100 million copies, with translations into 37 different languages.
Stephanie Meyer
The high selling female rapper in history, she is known for her creative music videos and hit singles such as "Supa Dupa Fly," "Get Ur Freak On," "Gossip Folks, and "Work It"
Missy Elliott
She is an American attorney and author who served as the First Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017, and was the first African-American woman to serve in this position.
Michelle Obama
At 6'5, she is one of the tallest WNBA players in history. From 1997 to 2009, she played center for the Los Angeles Sparks and was the first player to dunk in a WNBA game.
Lisa Leslie